STUDY FINDS INFORMATION SHARING CRUCIAL TO HEALTH CARE

Contact: State Rep. Seneca Scott
Capitol: (405) 557-7391

Contact: State Rep. Jason Murphey
Capitol: (405) 557-7350

OKLAHOMA CITY (October 13, 2010) – Despite high quality doctors and hospitals, Oklahoma ranks almost dead last in health outcomes. This is due in part to inefficiencies in data sharing and coordination, according to Dr. David Kendrick, Greater Tulsa Health Access Network founder and managing coordinator.

Kendrick spoke at a legislative study to examine the feasibility of a collaborative information technology health care model. The Greater Tulsa Health Access Network covers 11 counties in northeastern Oklahoma and is working to increase data sharing to reduce duplication in care and cost per patient. The study was requested by state Reps. Seneca Scott and Jason Murphey

“Access to health care in Oklahoma is a serious problem that could be improved through greater efficiency in our health care system, particularly in the area of information sharing,” Scott, D-Tulsa, said. “Speakers repeatedly pointed out that the system is fragmented and could be improved in ways that would actually reduce costs. I think the study was highly productive and informative.”

“This study documented some of the tremendous advances in quality of care which can be afforded through the application of new technologies,” Murphey, R-Guthrie, said. “It is important that these technological advances also be used to provide Oklahomans with transparency tools which can be used to track health care costs and put the health care consumer back in charge of free-market oriented decision-making.”

John Silva, CEO of the Morton Comprehensive Health Center, noted the importance of federally qualified health centers in reducing emergency room visits and giving primary care to the uninsured. Better information sharing could allow better coordination between the FQACs and other health care providers, he said.

The study also examined the Denver Health model, presented by Dr. Patricia Gabow, CEO of Denver Health. While the Tulsa health system is made up of various independent health care centers and organizations with separate, unconnected administrations, Denver Health integrates all health systems and centers under one administration, resulting in a cost-savings through reduction in duplication.

Jan Slater, CEO of the Oklahoma State University Medical Center, said that the residents of North Tulsa have a shorter life expectancy by 14 years than residents of South Tulsa and that this was largely due to a lack of coordination and continuity in the local health system. She noted that most nonprofit medical centers cannot operate profitably if they provide services to more than 5 percent to 8 percent of the uninsured population, yet Denver Health successfully serves 46 percent of the Denver uninsured population.

The study also heard from Dean Gandy, executive director of the University Hospitals Authority and Trust; Dr. Jim Hess, vice president and chief operating officer of Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences; and an Oklahoma Health Care Authority spokesman.

“I think those who attended the study will now have a greater understanding of the direction our health care system needs to take,” Scott said. “The task now is to discover how we as lawmakers can contribute to this process and ensure better health outcomes in our state.”